You notice that your natural resources are becoming overused and studies indicate
that your society is consuming more that can be sustained in the long term.
Do you consider the needs of future generations? How do you deal with a growing
population and the overconsumptive habits of your society?

Energy

You must come up with an energy policy. Your ship was a nuclear ship and the
equipment could be adapted for the production of nuclear power. You also have
oil reserves right off your Western coast that you can tap and internal combustion
engines from the ship. And you have the capability to build windmills, solar
collectors and steam generators. You have your forests and you have a student
that has studied energy efficient architecture. What are the pros and cons of
each of the sources of energy? For what purposes will you need energy? How will
you generate this energy?

International Finance and Debt

Representatives have visited you from another planet. They explain that although
they cannot take you to their planet, they can assist you in improving yours.
They will lend you the money and machinery to enable you to produce 10 times
as much on your fields if in return you will grow and sell the crops needed
by their society and if, once you have made enough money, you will repay them
at 10% annual interest.

Remember, many of the fields that produce a variety of foods for your people
will now get planted with cash crops for export. And these fields, because they
are planted with one crop, may require pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
Also, the visitors wish to lend the money to the most well off in your society
to protect their investment, so the land holdings of these individuals may grow
and force others to sell their land and become workers on the big farms. What
are the pros and cons of this offer? Do you accept this offer? Why or why not?

Non-material Economy

Some people want to devote themselves to philosophical thinking, poetry, art

and spiritual development. Are these valid ways to make a living in your society?
Are they contributing to society? How could such contributions be acknowledged
or rewarded? Are there other types of non-material work that should be acknowledged
or rewarded? What does it mean to be a healthy and productive citizen?

PROBLEM SOLVING CARDS

Welfare

Some of the members of your group had various social problems, e.g. drug

addiction and mental illness when you arrived. These people do not work very
hard, at least for now, and need special medical care and psychological help.

Will the other members of the society provide for these individuals' needs?
How and for how long?

Guns and Butter

It is rumored that not far from you is an island of people who are very dangerous.
Of all your time and resources, what percentage are you willing to devote to
preparing to defend yourselves? What activities, services, luxuries might be
cut in order to provide for your defense? Would you want a standing army, armed
and ready to fight at any moment? Who would serve in an army were you to need
one? What are the pros and cons to having a more "defense based" economy?

Native Peoples

You have just found out that in a remote area of the island (a place with fantastic
groves of mango and banana) there exists a tribe of people native to this island.
It is also rumored that the ground underneath this tribe is rich in coal deposits.
You could use coal as a fuel for your new machines; what should you do?

Will you ask the tribe to join your culture and share the resources? Will you
leave them alone? Will you remain separate but establish peaceful relations?
Will you ask them to move? Give them another part of the island? How will you
deal with these 'new' people and their resources?

Pollution

Water pollution has become a serious problem. The streams that flow on your
island are quickly becoming unsafe for swimming and fishing. In fact, 1/3 of
the fish population has died off from pollution. The causes of the pollution
are many: pesticide and fertilizer run-off from farms; oil and coolant run-off
from cars; waste from factories; erosion and manure from overgrazing cattle;
and litter.

How has water been treated as a free good? Develop a plan to deal with water
pollution. What are the trade-offs to your plan? Who should be involved in making
this plan?